Coalition cracks show over Conservative plan to cut number of MPs

David Cameron was today frantically trying to strike a last-minute deal with minor parties to save his flagship plans to slash the number of MPs after a bust-up with Nick Clegg.

The two leaders will walk through opposing voting lobbies in the Commons tonight, increasing strains in the Coalition.

The vote looks certain to derail the new parliamentary boundaries, which are worth up to 20 extra seats for the Conservatives in the 2015 election.

A source close to Mr Clegg urged Tories not to take revenge by blocking Lib-Dem measures in the future.

“I think everyone knows that descending into tit-for-tat is not in anyone’s interests.”

But Simon Hughes, the Lib-Dem deputy leader, said the breakdown was all the Conservatives’ fault. “Today’s Liberal Democrat vote is entirely caused by the decision of Conservatives to break the coalition agreement to reform the House of Lords,” he said.

“Liberal Democrats are determined to stand up for ourselves, our policies and interests in this government. Once a deal is done, any changes need agreement, not unilateral decisions by one side.”

Behind the scenes, Tory whips were trying to strike an agreement that would see eight MPs from Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party and six Scottish Nationalist Party MPs troop through the Aye lobby alongside Tories to save the blueprint. However, there was no early sign of success.

The DUP was meeting this afternoon to decide its position but a senior MP said it was “highly unlikely” they would back the Conservatives.

An SNP spokesman said they would not back the Conservatives but left open the possibility that their MPs might abstain. “There have been no discussions and no deal will be done on the boundary changes.”

Mr Clegg withdrew his party’s support for the plan in revenge when Conservatives blocked his plans for House of Lords reform. Tim Farron, the Lib-Dem president, said: “I think everyone realises this is what sometimes happens in Coalition, where there are two parties with different views. It’s not really news.”

But a source close to Mr Cameron said the Prime Minister would use the vote to embarrass those who voted against the cut in the number of MPs.

“People who vote for more expensive politics will have to defend their decision to voters,” said the source.